After a tribal Pakistani family is sent to live in Los Angeles as refugees, a young boy is forced to become the patriarch of his family. While the move might seem welcome, the family struggles to assimilate with other members of the community and finds life in Los Angeles more challenging than in war-torn Pakistan. Tragedy ultimately strikes after an unfortunate confrontation with neighborhood kids, which raises the question of who is to blame.

Amir Noorani is a first generation Pakistani-American originally hailing from Houston, Texas. Amir attended Cornell University before receiving his MFA from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He currently works as a Motion Graphics and Visual Effects Producer at The Ant Farm in Hollywood. Since graduating he has directed numerous commercials, but SHAYA marks his eighteenth narrative short.

Set agains the backdrop of K-town’s vibrant nightlife and seedy underworld, Jin is the story of a young man trying to provide a future for his brother and to reconcile his conscience with the harsh reality of the world in which he lives.

Director's Bio

IL Cho was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. His mother, a painter taught him how to explore the world through drawing, filling his teenage years with a vivid world of books, comics, and a wonderland of creation. After earning a BFA in Visual Communication from Kyung-Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, he worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. He then attended Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning a BA in Flin and Media Art. While there, he won the 2009 Diamond Film Festival, worked on a Feature Documentary about the blues band "Heavy Hand," and numerous other projects as a videographer, camera operator, and still photographer. He currently works as a featured photographer of the online magazine "blogsoul." He is also completeing his second year at the American Film Institute Conservator as a Director Fellow, where he is focusing on honing his sharp visual instinct to tell a distinguished narrative

Rainy Day for Earthworms2013 | 15 mins | DramaDirected by Gary Mei

After finishing the fourth grade. Matt reluctantly spends his summer at Chinese language school. There, he befriends Dao and Nathan. After a terrible accident shakes their community, the trio splits. Matt must make peace with what happened before the summer ends.

Director Bio

Gary is a Boston-based filmmaker. He jumped at the opportunity to spearhead video productions for student organizations in college. Before that, his experience focused on short films and concept trailers. He graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with a BSN in Nursing in 2011

Mei2013 | 6 mins | AnimationDirected by Margaret To

"Mei 媚姐" is a mixed media animated short that captures the director’s childhood memories with her caretaker.

Kimchi Fried Dumplings2013 | 15 mins | DramaDirected by Jason Karman

A Korean American man comes home with a new boyfriend for Christmas to find his younger brother, who is also gay, resentful for being left to care for their aging parents. Tensions come to a breaking point, but once emotions are out in the open, the family can begin to heal.

Knots Of My Shoes2013 | 5 mins | DocumentaryDirected by Mary Ouk

My story is going to focus on my cerebral palsy disability, and, at the same time, being an Asian American. As a child, I faced discrimination, prejudgment, and racism. I went through a suicidal phase; wanting to give up because of the consequences I faced being disabled. I'll share my story from the unique knots of my shoes.

Tule Lake2012 | 7 mins | AnimationDirected by Michelle Ikemoto

Based on true events, “Tule Lake” is a story of perseverance, shown from the perspective of a Japanese American internee during World War II. Held in the Tule Lake segregation camp with her family, a woman steps out of her barracks one winter night...